News

Civic Week explores Malvern's Edwardian heritage

MALVERN in Edwardian times is the theme of this year's Civic Week, which promises a cornucopia of lectures, music and exhibitions.

The week, organised by Malvern Civic Society, kicks off tomorrow (Saturday) at 10.30am with an opening ceremony on Belle Vue Island with town mayor Julian Roskams.

This is followed by a prizegiving at Malvern Theatres at 11am for winners of the civic society's schools' literary competition.

And at 7.30pm the same day, the Church of the Ascension in Somers Park Avenue is the venue for the week's first major concert, Serenade to Edwardian Times, featuring music from the Hills Singers, Carol Green and other local musicians, and readings by Linda Hart.

Author E M Forster, whose novels immortalise the Edwardian age, is the subject of a lecture by historian Paula Byrne at the Forum, Malvern Theatres on Monday at 7.30pm and the next day, the spotlight falls on architect and friend of Elgar Troyte Griffith, with Professor Jeremy Hardie, giving an illustrated talk at All Saints, Malvern Wells, at 2.30pm. ` Another distinguished architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose work ranges from English country houses to the city of New Delhi is the subject of an illustrated talk by descendent Martin Lutyens on Wednesday at the Forum at 7.30pm. And on Thursday, Madresfield Church is the venue for Retrospection: Poetry in Words and Music 1849-1920, starting at 12.30pm.

Civic Week culminates on Saturday, July 19, with an illustrated talk at Malvern College by antiques expert Henry Sandon MBE on Edwardian Porcelain. Bring your pieces for Sandon to value by 1.45pm, in time for the talk at 2.30pm.

And the same evening, Christ Church is the venue for the Jenny Lind singers to join forces with the Elgar Society for Elgar's Edwardian Era, starting at 7.30pm.

The weeks als includes plenty of excursions, exhibitions and other events, and for full details, see malverncivicsociety.org.uk.